That is the largest problem. Trying to create an intuitive UI for the custom fields. GARS can get pretty complex in its varied configurations which means that coming up with simple UIs for complex things becomes a challenge.

Here's a thought which may act as a good stepping stone to fully searchable custom fields

Allow people to create a GALS customfield. When I got GALS I used it to create keyword links that search for similar terms. For example create a
GAL
for the keyword "Monkey" and the link goes to search for the word Monkey on the forums. The only problem is that it searches the description field, which isn't really precise.

TO begin you would have to create a custom field that only allows
GAL
input and creates a drop down menu or check box on the search page. In order for it to be effective the
GAL
links and the
GAL
search function would need to search only the custom
GAL
field. That way other terms on the board would not be search. In the end the whole thing works kinda like a tagging system.

I figure it would be easier to do this than try to tackle a all custom field variables at a time. Just a thought and probably harder than I make it sound.

An added bonus for you Geek is that it encourages people to by GALS too!

GAL

The Geek Auto-linker is the famous vBulletin system for auto highlighting key words is posts with links and/or popups.

It would be an advantage to have a search module, I understand that's not easy to make it. But I think a basic matrix should be done quickly.
This means e.g. a modified search.php with the ability to make a forum search and including some example lines searching on custom gars db fields 1-10. And a template with a text search field, a dropdown select field and a select box. This would be enough to play around with. Thank you.